Inkwell



4 Aug. 3, 1937. J. D. GoBLE 2,088,952

INKWELL 4Filed. Feb. 5J 1 935 Patented Aug. 3, 1937` UNTED STATES PATENTFFIQE l 2,088,952 y y INKWELL` Jaimes D. Goble, Los AngelesCalif.Application February 5, 1936, Serial N0. 62,455 22 claims. (o1. I12o-61)` lViy invention relates to an ink well of a type in which the'pen`is immersed and retains ink of a practically `constant depth, this wellbeing readily relled` by a downward thrust of the pen when inserted inthe ink well, as such type of ink well is illustrated in my prior PatentNo. 2,062,022, issued November 24, 1936. i i l In my present invention Ipresent a number of improvements or further developments of the deviceoimy prior application, one of which residesin an improved constructionfor maintaining the ink in a supply reservoir from contamina.- tion withthe air or evaporation into the air b-y a more complete closure of thereservoir. Other improvements relate to the structure of the pump, themanner of mounting the pump barrel, and the plunger voperated by thepen, which plunger `has the ink well or pocket in which the pen isdipped. l

Certain objects and features of my invention in regard to the pumpconstruction are in a pump barrel supported with its lower end extendinginto the ink reservoir, the axis of the barrel being preferably inclinedto the horizontal, and in which the barrel has an intake port for now ofink from the reservoir to the bottom portion of the barrel. This porthas a check Valve adjacent thereto to prevent ink being forceddownwardly through the port after an inilow from the reservoir. In mypresent construction a spring seats on the bottom of the pump barrel andnormally maintains the plunger in its elevated position. Thus after theplunger has been de- `pressed by a pen the spring forces it upwardly,causing a now of ink into the lower part of the pump barrel.

Another feature of improvement in my invention consists in providing a`transfer compartment for ink in the lower part of the plunger, whichplunger is provided with a port communicating with the ink chamber inthe bottom of the barrel. In this case, a check valve is used torestrain back flow of ink from the compartment of the plunger to thechamber in the lower part of the barrel.

A further improvement consists of an ink well constructed in the upperpartaof the plunger, there being an opening for insertion of the pen,and the plunger has ports in the form of slits leading to an annularspace between a portion of the plunger and the upper part of the pumpbarrel. In order to iill this/space with ink, openings or ports areprovided in the pump barrel communicating from the transfer compartmentto the annular space, thus allowing' flow of ink fromfthe reservoir tosuch annular space, and

thence through the slit-like ports Ato the ink well.`

depressed position `foriilling the ink well with ink;

Figure 2 is a vertical section showing the pump with the pump plunger inits elevated position, and the remaining portion of the stand invertical section; and

Figure 3` is a cross-section through the pump on the line 3 3 of Figure2 `in the direction of the arrows.

`In my invention I employ a spherical or ballshaped stand l l, thisparticular shape being used Vfor the sake of symmetry and artisticappearance. The stand has a lower or base portion l2 and rests on ametal pedestal i3, the pedestal being on an ornamental base plate I4,there being a screw i5 `attaching the base plate, the pedestal and thebase portion of the stand. The stand hasan` annular rim i6 with ashoulder l'l. The cap or cover portion I9 of the stand has a lowerperipheral portion 2t iitting outside of the rim IG and contacting anornamental metal ring 2i which is `iitted onthe shoulder Il outside ofthe rim I6.

The ink reservoir 25 is formed by a cylinder 2'5 extending upwardly fromthe base l2, and by the portionof the base between the `lower ends El ofthis` cylinder.` Thefcylinder terminates in an upper edge 28 at rightangles to the axis of the reservoir cylinder. l This provides the upperpart 29 of the `cylinder which has a tight sliding nt inside off thedownturned rim 3&3 formed integral withv the cap or cover part i9 of thestand.

In order to provide suicient material for the screw l5 to engage, aninternalboss`3l is formed at the lower part ofthe stand.

" A'recess35 is formed in the cover or cap` I9 by having an inwardlyextending cylindrical wall i 3G', thusproviding a circular opening 31 inthe cap. The lower part of this wall is formed with a substantiallyinternal threaded ring 38. The pump barrel designated by the assemblynumeral 45 has acylindrical side wall ll6"externally threaded p 1 thatit will be above the level of the ink in the F in the ink well.

reservoir 25. The barrel also has a series of overflow holes 53 to belocated above the level of ink in the reservoir and preferablyimmediately below the ring 38 at the bottom of. the inturned cylindricalwall 36 of the cap. The pump plunger designated by the assembly numeral6D has a lower cylindrical bearing end 6I sliding on the inside surfaceI of the barrel. Above this the plunger is reduced in diameter leavingan annular passage 62 between the slightly tapered outer wall 63 of theplunger and the inside of the cylinder of the pump barrel. Thisconstruction develops a shoulder 64 which is engaged by the stop screw52. rIhe plunger is urged upwardly by a coil compression spring 65bearing against the check valve seat surface 50 and the lower end of thepump plunger. A lower ball check valve 66 is confined by the spring asif in a cage, and forms a check closure for the port 48 at the bottom ofthe pump barrel. An upper check valve 10 is constructed by having asleeve 'H fitted in the lower end of the pump plunger, this having aport 12 and a cone-shaped seating surface 13 on which rests a secondball check valve 14. The port l2 leads to a transfer compartment 15defined at its upper end by the transverse partition T6. An opening orlateral drain port 11 through the wall of the pump plunger leads fromthe transfer compartment to the annular space 62.

The ink well 88 is located in the upper portion or". the pump plunger,being defined by the partition 15 at the bottom and the inside walls ofthe pump plunger. A flared mouth 8| may form somewhat of a guide ininserting the pen There are a plurality of slitlike openings or feedingports 82 cut through the wall of the pump plunger above the partition E6to provide for the lling of the ink well with ink in the mannerhereunder detailed. These feeding ports when the plunger is in itsuppermost position, should be below the bottom of the recess 35; thatis, they should not be above the upper edge of the pump barrel, so thatany surplus ink displaced by inserting a pen will flow out of theseports and into the annular space 62. However, should any ink spill intothe recess 35, it will pass through a drain opening 83 to the inkreservoir.

The manner of operation and functioning of my invention is substantiallyas follows: In order to fill the reservoir with ink the cover cap I9 ifdesired may be removed from the base portion I2 of. the stand. Of coursethis Will remove the whole of the pump including the pump barrel s' andthe pump plunger which has the ink well therein. Then ink may be pouredinto the cylinder of the reservoir, care being taken that there is notan excessive amount of ink, so that the insertion of the lower portionof the pump barrel into a reservoir would cause a sufficientdisplacement to overflow the ink over the upper edge 28 of thereservoir. However, an alternative way of replenishing the ink in thereservoir is to remove the pen from the ink well and While the pumpplunger is either elevated or depressed pour ink into the ink well. Thiswill then run through the ports 82 of the plunger and through the ports53 of the barrel into the reservoir. Again, if desired ink may be poureddirectly into the recess and drained directly into the drain opening 83into the reservoir.

When the pump plunger is in its uppermost position shown in Figure 2 inkwill flow from the reservoir through the port 66 into the inkcompartment 49 and also will flow upwardly through the port I2 into thetransfer compartment and fill such compartment to the level of the inkin the reservoir. When a pen is inserted in the ink Well the lower endof the open handle engages the flared mouth 8| of the plunger so thatthis may be depressed. In such action the lower check valve 66 becomesseated due to the pressure on the ink in the compartment 49, such inkiiowing upwardly through the port 12 displacing the upper check valve 14and supplying more ink into the transfer chamber 'l5 than this hascapacity to hold. Ink thus flows through the port l1 into the annularspace 62 lling this space up to the overiiow ports 53. But when the pumpplunger is depressed as shown in Figure 1, the slit-like ports 82 arebelow the overflow openings or ports 53, at least on the lower side of.the plunger. Hence, ink iiows from the annular chamber 62 into the inkwell 88, the ink forming on a level with the port on they lowest side.Mani'festly, any surplus ink over and above that which may be held inthe ink well drains downwardly through the overflow ports 53 to thereservoir. Then when the pen is removed or depressing pressure of thepen on the plunger released, the plunger rises to the lifted position ofFigure 2, this action causing the compartment 75 in the bottom of theplunger to fill with ink and the ball I4 to become more or less seated,preventing outflow of ink from the transfer compartment T5. As theplunger rises, the ink dropped in the annular space 62 drains out o1 thedrain ports 53. It is preferably to make the surface 63 tapered so theannular chamber is more restricted at the top than at the bottom.Manifestly, if any ink spills in the recess 35, it drains through thedrain port 83 to the reservoir.

Various changes may be made in the Adetails of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device as described, the combination of a structure having anink reservoir, a pump barrel mounted thereon in a fixed position andhaving an intake port at the bottom, a plunger slidable in the barreland having a transfer compartment with a port leading to the interior ofthe barrel, the upper part of the plunger having a mouth with an inkwell therebelow, and means for flowing ink from the transfer compartmentof the plunger to the ink well on operation of the plunger.

2. In a device as described, a structure having an ink reservoir, a pumphaving a pump barrel and a plunger, means to normally maintain theplunger elevated, thereby providing an ink compartment in the lower partof the barrel, the barrel having a port communicating between thereservoir and said compartment, the pump barrel having an ink transfercompartment, an open mouth at the top, and an ink well, there being aport communicating from the transfer compartment to the compartment inthe lower part of the plunger.

3. In adevice asdescribed, the combination of a stand having an inkreservoir, a pump having `a pump barrel and a plunger, means to hold theplunger having a second port communicating between the chamber of thebarrel andthe transfer compartment, there being a `passage from thetransfer compartment to the ink Well whereby on depression of `theplunger in the barrel ink is forced through the transfer compartment insaid passage to the ink well.

4. In a device as described in claim 3, the said passage comprising anannular f space between the barrel andthe plungerwith a `port connectingfrom said space to the transfer compartment,

and second ports connecting from said space tov theV ink Well.

5L In a device as described in claim 3, the ink `well portion of theplunger having an overflow` port for return of excess ink to thereservoir, the

upper part of the `stand having a recess in which the upper part of theplunger extends, and a drain opening from said recess to the inkreservoir.

`6. In a device as described, the combination of a` stand havng an inkreservoir, a pump having a pump `barrel and a plunger, means to hold thebarrel in a xed relation to the reservoir, the pump plunger having abearing end operating in the barrel and a reduced upper section formingan annular passage between the upper portion of the plunger and thebarrel, the plunger having an open mouth at the topwith an ink welltherebelow and portsrthrough the plunger communicating between theannular space and the inkwell, a spring interengaging the bottom of thebarrel and the lower end of the plunger to normally maintain the plungerelevated, means operative on the depression of the plunger to force inkfrom the reservoir to the annular space and thence from such space tothe inkwell.

'7. In a device as claimed in claim 6, the means toforce the ink fromthe reservoir to the annular space comprising a port having a valve inlthe lower part of the barrel communicating with the ink chamber in thebottom of the barrel, a second port having a check valve leading fromthe bottom of the plunger to the said ink chamber, there being an inktransfer compartment in the plunger separated from the inkwell and aport in the plunger from the transfer compartment to the said annularspace.

8. In a device as described, the combination of a stand having an inkreservoir in its lower portion, a pump barrel held in a fixed positionin the stand with its lower portion immersed in the ink of thereservoir, a pump plunger slidably mounted in the barrel and having abearing end with a sliding fit, a spring reacting between the barrel andthe plunger normally maintaining the plunger elevated and therebyforming an ink chamber between the plunger and the barrel theiupper endlof the plunger having an open mouth and an inkwell therebelowja portinthe plunger communieating between theinkwell and the annular space,

`and an operative means on depression of the plunger .to transfer inkfrom the ink chamber of the barrel to the said annular space wherelby.ink may iiow from said space to the inkwell.

9.. In a device as claimed in claim 8, the said operative means totransfer ink comprising a partition inthe plunger forming the bottom ofthe ink well, a closure means for the bottom of the plunger forming atransfer compartment between thepartition, `the closure element and thewalls of the plunger, there being a `port with a check vali/1ecommunicating between the ink chamber of the barrel and the transfercompartment of the plunger, and a port in the plunger leading from thetransfer compartment to the said annular space.

10. In a device as claimed in claim 8, the upper portion of the standhaving aV recesswith` the pump barrel attached thereto and a drainopening from said recess to the reservoir to return overflow ink fromthe annular space inthe ink Well to the reservoir. l

l1. In a device as described, the combination of a stand having aninll:v reservoirrat the bottom, a pump barrel secured to the stand andheld in a fixed position with its lower end in the inkwell,

a plunger having a bearing'end slidable in the barrel, a spring betweenthe bottom of` the barrel and the bottom of the plunger normally holdingthe plunger elevated, there being an ink chamber in the barrel between`thebottom of the 'plunger and the bottom of the barrel, the barrelhaving a rst port with a first check valve communicatingrbetween the inkchamber and the ink reservoir, the `plunger having a transversepartition and an ink transfer chamber `below the partition and an:inkwell above'the` partition, a second port witha second check valve inthe bottom ofthe plunger communicating between the ink chamber of thebarrel and the ink compartment of the plunger, the plunger having anopen` eating between said space and the inkwell whereby on depression ofthe plunger ink iiows through said space to the inkwell.

12. In a device as claimed in claim 1l, the stand having a recess atthe. top with the barrel located at the bottom of the recess, th-e pumpbarrel having a drain opening communicating from the annular space tothe ink reservoir and the recess having a second drain openingcommunicating with the ink reservoir.

13. In a device as claimed in claim 1l, the said annular space beingtapered whereby when the plunger is in its uppermost position there isbut little clearance between the barrel and the plunger to restrict thecontact of air with the ink in said annular space. i

14. In a device as claimed in claim 11, the stand having a base portionwith the reservoir therein, a cover cap secured to the. base of thestand and having an opening, the pump barrel being threaded in saidopening whereby the ink in the reservoir is substantially out of contactwith the air outside of the interior of the stand.

15. In a device as described, the combination of a stand substantiallyspherical on its outside surfaceand having a lower or base portion and acover or cap portion with a joint therebetween, the joint being atsubstantially an angle of with the horizontal, a structure having acylindrical wall secured to the base,'the axis of the cylinder beinginclined upwardly at an angle of 45 and at right angles to the plane ofthe said joint, the said cylinder with the portion of the base formingan ink reservoir whereby the level of ink in the reservoir may be abovethe lowermost portion of the said joint, the cap having an opening, apump barrel secured t'o the cap at the said opening and having its lowerend extending into the cylinder forming the ink reservoir, a pumpplunger slidably mounted in the barrel, and having an open mouth with aninkwell therebelow, and resilient means to maintain the plungerelevated, and an operative means on depression of the plunger to ow inkfrom the reservoir into the barrel and from the barrel through part ofthe plunger to the inkwell.

16. In a device as claimed in claim l5, the cap having an inwardlyturned cylindrical wall at the opening with an internal threaded rim,and the pump barrel having a threaded connection to said rim.

17. In a device as claimed in claim l5, the cap having lan inturned rimengaging the upper part of the cylindrical walls forming part of the inkreservoir, thereby limiting the air in contact with the ink at thereservoir to the air above the level Vof the ink and below the portionof the cap inside of the said rim. i

18. In a device as described, a stand having an ink reservoir at thebottom, a pump barrel xedly mounted in said stand to have its lower endimmersed in the reservoir, a port in the barrel communicating with thereservoir, a pump plunger having an ink Well at the upper part with amouth at the top of the ink well, means normally retaining the plungerwith the ink Well elevated, the said plunger being adapted to bedepressed by a portion of a pen holder engaging the said mouth with thepen out of contact with the bottom of the ink well to thereby depress aplunger, means forming a communication from the lower portion of thepump barrel to the ink well fcr flow of ink to supply the said well.

19. In a device as described and claimed in claim 18, a structureforming a recess connected to the stand, the pump barrel being attachedto the base of said recess, the pump plunger and the mouth extendingupwardly into the said recess, the said recess having a drip openingcommunicating with the reservoir.

20. In a device as described, the combination of a stand substantiallyspherical on its outside surface and having a lower or base portion anda cover or cap portion, a reservoir structure in the base, the caphaving an opening with a pump barrel connected thereto, the axis of thesaid barrel being at substantially 45 degrees to the horizontal, thebarrel having a valve communicating with the reservoir to an ink chamberabove the valve, a pump plunger slidably mounted in the pump barrel,means to normally elevate the plunger, the said plunger having an inkWell at its upper end with a mouth for inserting a pen, such pen beingadapted for depression of the plunger and means forming an inkconnection between the ink chamber and the ink well, the upper portionof the plunger and the mouth thereof extending above the upper end ofthe pump barrel.

2l. In a device as described and claimed in claim 20, the said caphaving a recessed structure to which the pump plunger is connected witha drip opening to the reservoir, the cap also having a connection to thereservoir structure to exclude circulating air from said reservoir.

22. In a device as described and claimed in claim 20, the cap having arecess structure with the pump barrel connected to the bottom of therecess, a drip opening from the recess to the reservoir, the meansforming the ink connection including an annular space between the pumpbarrel and the plunger, the bottom of the ink well being defined by apartition, there being an ink transfer chamber therebelow, a valvecommunicating from the bottom of the plunger to the transfer chamber, arst port from the chamer to the annular passage, a second port from thepassage to the ink well and a third port from the pump barrel to thereservoir communicating with the said annular passage for overflow ofthe ink from said passage to the said reservoir. JAMES D. GOBLE.

